Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2014 Recreational Accountability Measures for Red Grouper in the Gulf of Mexico

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary rule. Based on the 2013 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) overage, this rule reduces the red grouper bag limit in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from four to three fish (within the current four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit) and reduces the length of the red grouper recreational fishing season in the Gulf EEZ by the amount necessary to ensure landings do not exceed the recreational annual catch target (ACT) for the 2014 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS implements recreational post-season AMs by reducing the bag limit for red grouper in the Gulf EEZ from four to three fish effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 5, 2014, until the recreational sector is projected to meet the recreational ACT. NMFS projects the recreational sector will reach the recreational ACT under the three fish bag limit by September 16, 2014. Therefore, the recreational sector for red grouper in the Gulf EEZ will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, September 16, 2014, through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2014, unless further notification is published in the Federal Register. These actions are necessary to protect the Gulf red grouper resource.